Satisfied at last, York turned his head back, tilting his chin slightly as he gazed up at the crystal chandelier overhead. His voice was steady but quiet as he began, "My mother and Rosa's mother are half-sisters. Years ago, my grandmother agreed to a family-arranged marriage and, because of that, forced Rosa's grandmother and my grandfather apart."
"At the time, Rosa's grandmother was already pregnant. She raised her child alone and never remarried."
"Later, after my mother gave birth to me, her health never fully recovered. Two years on, she was diagnosed with leukemia. Only a bone marrow transplant could save her life."
"Our family tried everything—called in every favor, searched everywhere—but no suitable donor could be found. It was Rosa's mother who, when she heard about it, offered to be tested. She was a match. She saved my mother's life."
"But there was one condition—absolute secrecy. She didn't want anyone, not even my family, to know who the donor was. She wanted the past to stay buried."
York paused, turning to look at Beasley again. A bitter smile flickered on his lips. "So, you see, my feelings for Rosa aren't childhood infatuation, and they're certainly not romantic. She's my cousin. My connection to her is family, pure and simple."
Beasley hadn't expected such a tangled history between him and Rosamund.
"So now you know why I care so much about what happens to Rosa," York said quietly.
Beasley nodded. "You and Mrs. White both want to repay that debt of gratitude."
For a moment, Beasley thought of his own mother and the way she felt about Willow. Wasn't it the same kind of bond?
Suddenly, he understood York a little better.
Still…
"But York, I have to say it again—I don't have those kinds of feelings for Rosamund. You really don't need to keep playing matchmaker."
He needed to make sure York was absolutely clear on this.
York looked at him. "Not even a chance?"
"Not a chance," Beasley replied, his tone firm and final.
"In a remote village in Africa. My guys need a bit more time to pin down his exact location, but it shouldn't be long now."
York was genuinely thrilled. "That's fantastic! After all these years searching, we finally have a lead!"
Beasley smiled faintly. "Now you can focus on getting back to The Sinclair Group, right?"
York broke into a huge, goofy grin. "As if I wasn't already on top of it!"
Beasley just waved. "Alright, I'm off."
After leaving York's new place, Beasley swung by Cliffhaven Gardens first.
He parked in the underground garage, then glanced at the empty space beside his car.
She's out.

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